U.S. patent number 5,447,077 [Application Number 08/170,295] was granted by the patent office on 1995-09-05 for device for the evaporation treatment of preferably liquid substances, in particular reagents, or for the preparation or analysis of sample material.
This patent grant is currently assigned to MLS Mikrowellen-Labor-Systeme GmbH. Invention is credited to Werner Lautenschlager.
United States Patent |
5,447,077 |
Lautenschlager |
September 5, 1995 |
Device for the evaporation treatment of preferably liquid
substances, in particular reagents, or for the preparation or
analysis of sample material
Abstract
In a device (1) for the evaporation treatment of preferably
liquid substances, in particular reagents, or for the preparation
or analysis of sample material in a container (6), having a
preferably microwave-operated heating appliance (2) and a holder
(4) for at least one container (6) in the heating chamber (3), the
container (6) being connected to a supply line (11; 11a) and/or to
a discharge line (9; 63, 63a), the line (9; 11; 11a; 63; 63a) has
in the peripheral region of the container (6) a releasable line
connection (43; 45) which is established by the insertion movement
on insertion of the container (6) into the holder (4) or severed by
the removal movement on removal of the container (6) from the
holder (4) as a result of coaxial relative displacement or parallel
displacement of the line connection portions (38a, 38b; 23c).
Inventors: |
Lautenschlager; Werner
(Leutkirch, DE) |
Assignee: |
MLS Mikrowellen-Labor-Systeme
GmbH (Leutkirch, DE)
|
Family
ID: |
25914440 |
Appl.
No.: |
08/170,295 |
Filed: |
December 30, 1993 |
PCT
Filed: |
April 29, 1993 |
PCT No.: |
PCT/EP93/01037 |
371
Date: |
December 30, 1993 |
102(e)
Date: |
December 30, 1993 |
PCT
Pub. No.: |
WO93/22650 |
PCT
Pub. Date: |
November 11, 1993 |
Foreign Application Priority Data
|
|
|
|
|
Apr 30, 1992 [DE] |
|
|
42 23 116.7 |
Jul 14, 1992 [DE] |
|
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42 14 392.6 |
|
Current U.S.
Class: |
73/863.11;
422/430 |
Current CPC
Class: |
B01D
1/0017 (20130101); B01J 3/04 (20130101); B01D
3/10 (20130101); B01D 3/42 (20130101); B01D
11/0219 (20130101); B01J 19/126 (20130101); G01N
1/44 (20130101); H05B 6/6411 (20130101); H05B
6/645 (20130101); H05B 6/6494 (20130101); H05B
6/806 (20130101); B01J 19/12 (20130101); B01D
1/0052 (20130101); B01J 2219/1218 (20130101); B01J
2219/187 (20130101); B01J 2219/1257 (20130101) |
Current International
Class: |
B01D
3/10 (20060101); B01D 3/42 (20060101); B01J
19/12 (20060101); B01D 11/02 (20060101); B01D
1/00 (20060101); G01N 1/44 (20060101); H05B
6/80 (20060101); G01N 025/00 () |
Field of
Search: |
;73/863.23,863.11,863.12
;422/68.1,78,58,102 |
References Cited
[Referenced By]
U.S. Patent Documents
|
|
|
4347216 |
August 1982 |
Kawasaki et al. |
4693867 |
September 1987 |
Commarmot et al. |
5135872 |
August 1992 |
Pouletty et al. |
5192984 |
March 1993 |
Beecher et al. |
5201232 |
April 1993 |
Uffenheimer |
5270010 |
December 1993 |
Lautenschalager |
|
Foreign Patent Documents
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|
|
|
|
|
|
0156742 |
|
Oct 1985 |
|
EP |
|
0335020 |
|
Oct 1989 |
|
EP |
|
0467625 |
|
Jan 1992 |
|
EP |
|
3818697 |
|
Dec 1992 |
|
DE |
|
2081442 |
|
Feb 1982 |
|
GB |
|
Primary Examiner: Chilcot, Jr.; Richard E.
Assistant Examiner: Noori; Max H.
Attorney, Agent or Firm: Fitzpatrick, Cella, Harper &
Scinto
Claims
I claim:
1. A device for evaporation treatment of sample material in a
container, said device having a microwave-operated heating
appliance, a heating chamber and a holder for at least one
container in the heating chamber, the container being connected to
a line, characterized in that the line has in the peripheral region
of the container a releasable line connection which is established
by insertion movement on insertion of the container into the holder
and is severed by removal movement on removal of the container from
the holder as a result of relative displacement of portions of the
line connection.
2. A device according to claim 1, characterized in that the line
connection is oriented such that insertion and removal movement of
the container is directed substantially horizontally as well as
transversely to an operating side and the axis of the line
connection extends substantially horizontally.
3. A device according to claim 1, characterized in that the line
connection is a plug-in connection.
4. A device according to claim 1, characterized in that the
container comprises a pot-shaped bottom part and a lid.
5. A device according to claim 4, characterized in that the line
penetrates a lid on the container and opens out into a cavity in
the bottom portion of the container.
6. A device according to claim 1, characterized in that the line
penetrates the holder in a lead-in hole.
7. A device according to claim 5, characterized in that the lid is
on the holder and the line connection is provided between the lid
and the bottom portion of the container.
8. A device according to claim 1, characterized in that the holder
has two vertically spaced-apart, substantially horizontal seating
surfaces between which the container is insertable and selectively
removable substantially horizontally.
9. A device according to claim 8, characterized in that one of the
seating surfaces is vertically movable and is acted upon by a
spring force in a downward direction.
10. A device according to claim 1, characterized in that a guide is
associated with the holder for guiding the container into a
positioning point in the holder and a stop is provided for
delimiting the insertion movement in the positioning point.
11. A device according to claim 1, characterized in that associated
with the device are a measuring device for measuring a condition in
a region which includes the container and the line and an
electronic control device with an evaluation device, the control
device being constructed and arranged to switch off the device
during operation when the measured condition reaches a a
predetermined value.
12. A device according to claim 1, characterized in that a conduit
for a flowable substance is disposed and extends helically from top
to bottom in the container.
13. A device according to claim 1, characterized in that the
container is hung in a suspended arrangement on the holder by means
of a suspension device.
14. A device according to claim 13, characterized in that the
suspension device has holding limbs which engage laterally under
suspension shoulders of the container, and in that an insertion
opening is provided for insertion of the container between the
holding limbs.
15. A device according to claim 13 or 14, characterized in that
associated with the suspension device is a vertically elastically
yielding closure part for the container, said closure part being
clampable against an opening edge of the container.
16. A device according to claim 1, characterized in that a
collecting groove for condensation product is provided on an inner
wall near the top of the container.
17. A device according to claim 1, characterized in that associated
with the heating chamber is a cooling device comprising a gas feed
device for generating a cooling gas stream which extends in the
heating chamber from an inlet opening to an outlet opening.
Description
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
1. Field of the Invention
It is common practice, particularly in analytical chemistry, to
utilize evaporation of a substance, particularly a reagent such as,
fox: example, a liquid solvent, to separate preselected
constituents of the substance.
For said purpose, the substance is heated in a container in order
to bring about accelerated evaporation. Certain conclusions may
then be drawn from the residual constituents, e.g. by considering
the weight or weights thereof.
Owing to the separation effect which occurs during the evaporation
of evaporable fractions of a substance, it is advantageously
possible through the evaporation also to separate a substance into
specific constituents or also to purify a substance of specific
constituents. The invention therefore also relates to the field of
application of distillation.
Evaporation and/or preparation may occur under a partial vacuum or
excess pressure in the container.
To accelerate the evaporation and/or preparation, the substance to
be evaporated is heated, this usually entailing a pressure increase
in the container.
2. Description of the Related Art
DE-OS 38 18 697 describes a heating appliance for heating and
preparing sample material in at least one container under excess
pressure, where, upon a pressure increase in the container as
described above, the resulting gases may upon a specific pressure
being exceeded escape through a pressure relief valve of the
container, pass into the closed heating chamber and be extracted
from there by means of an extraction device. It has also already
been proposed to remove the resulting vapours or gases by means of
a pipe connected directly to the container and possibly subject
them to analytical evaluation.
In the case of the evaporation measures described above, the
substance may be situated in a specific quantity in the container
or it may by means of a substance supply line and a vapour removal
line be continuously supplied and/or removed as vapour. In many
cases of analytical chemistry, however, it is usual to introduce
the substance into the container in a specific quantity, e.g. after
weighing, and to remove the vapour or gas arising during the
treatment by means of a vapour removal line.
All of the cases described above involve frequent handling of the
container, e.g. for introducing the substance or removing treatment
residues. However, any attempt to make handling simpler and quick
is frustrated by the line connection of the container, particularly
in cases where the at least one container during heating in the
associated appliance is rotated or swivelled back and forth, as is
the case with the above-mentioned heating appliance disclosed in
DE-OS 38 18 697. In known constructions, before the container is
removed or inserted in the heating appliance, the existing line
connection has to be separately opened or closed, which makes
handling more difficult. Furthermore, particularly in the case of a
rotating holder for the at least one container, the arrangement of
the line is problematical.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
The object of the invention is to design a device of the type
described initially in such a way as to enable user-friendly and
fast insertion and removal of the container into and out of the
heating appliance.
This is achieved, in one aspect, by providing a line, which may be
either or both a supply line and a discharge line, which is
connected or released by the insertion movement or removable
movement of the container from a holder as a result of relative
displacement of portions of the line connection.
In the device according to the invention, the line connection to
and/or from the container may be automatically established by
inserting the container into its positioning point in the holder
and automatically severed by removing the container. There is
therefore no need to operate a special screw connection or execute
a special movement for closing or opening the line connection,
which would be user-unfriendly and time-consuming and would
moreover require an increased level of attention on the part of the
operator.
Preferably, in the construction according to the invention, a guide
for the direction of movement of the container, especially during
insertion, is associated with the holder so that the operator does
not have to worry too much about whether the container is in the
correct position when being inserted or pushed into the holder. The
guide positively conveys the container into its predetermined
position, with the end position of the container also being
definable in a simple manner by means of a movement stop.
In the context of the invention, it is possible for the axis of the
line connection to extend transversely or at right angles to the
(approximately) horizontal insertion and removal movement or to
extend in a longitudinal direction or parallel to the horizontal
insertion and removal movement. In the former case, a parallel
displacement of the axial portions of the line connection is
effected until they are aligned with one another. In the latter
case, the line connection according to the invention may be formed
by a plug-in connection in the peripheral region of the container
with one plug-in connection part in the holder and one plug-in
connection part associated with the container, said plug-in
connection parts cooperating with one another in the manner of a
coupling. In both cases, the insertion and removal movement of the
container is used to establish and sever the line connection
automatically.
In both cases indicated above, a sealing of the line connection may
be realized in a simple manner. In the first case, horizontal
contiguous fitting surfaces may be disposed between the holder and
the container or a ring seal may be disposed between a
downward-directed surface of the holder and an upward-directed
surface of the container, said ring seal surrounding the point of
separation of the line connection in the form of a ring.
In the context of the invention, it is further possible for the
line connection according to the invention to be formed by a line
portion extending in the holder and a line portion extending in the
lid of the container or merely by a line portion extending in the
holder. In the latter case, when a pot-shaped container is used,
the lid of the container may be formed by the holder, in which case
the preferably vertical connection line portion extending in the
holder-side lid part thus formed emanates from or opens out into
the cavity of a pot-shaped container.
The invention also relates to advantageous container constructions
in various versions. One construction, as already described above,
is such that an open-topped pot-shaped container is provided and a
lid part associated with said container is associated with the
holder or is a part of the holder.
Another container construction is such that the container is formed
by a top container part and a bottom container part, with a sieve
or filter plate being provided between the container parts for
receiving the sample material, the cavity of the bottom container
part preferably being able to be acted upon by a partial
vacuum.
The measure of effecting evaporation in the presence of a partial
vacuum is advantageous in all embodiments basically because a
partial vacuum lowers the boiling point of the reagent or solvent
and so it is possible to operate not only with less heating energy
but also at lower temperatures, thereby allowing gentle treatment
of the sample material or enabling the treatment of heat-sensitive
material. As a result, evaporation may occur more effectively both
in general and in particular when, in the case of a two-piece
container as described above, the partial vacuum is applied to the
cavity of the bottom container part while a sample impregnated with
the reagent or solvent is situated above and an air stream
generated by the extraction system is conveyed through the
sample.
In the context of the invention, it is possible for the heating
chamber accommodating at least one container to be acted upon as a
whole by a partial vacuum and evacuated or for the container, or
each container, to be directly evacuated or for each container to
be disposed in a separate partial-vacuum container or chamber in
the heating chamber, so that in each case only the partial-vacuum
container surrounding the container with a slight clearance need be
evacuated, this taking less energy and time to achieve.
The invention also relates to an advantageous gas sweeping device
for the container or containers for removing vapours or the like,
with it being possible for the reagent or solvent to be introduced
into the container prior to insertion of the container into the
holder or to be supplied preferably automatically by a supply
device when the container has already been inserted into the
holder. In the latter case, it is advantageous to combine an
introduction of gas or air enabling extraction of the vapours with
the supply for the reagent. Means may be provided, which allow gas
or air to be introduced even when no reagent is to be supplied,
because in many cases only a batch-wise supply of reagent is
desired. Both are effected preferably through the lid of the
container or through a part of the holder forming a lid for the
container.
It is advantageous, in the case of extraction of the vaporous
constituents in the container, to associate with the container or
the heating chamber an aeration valve through which a gas or air
may be sucked in. A sweeping action and improved removal of the
vaporous constituents are thereby achieved. When an inert gas is
used as an aerating or sweeping gas, explosion protection for
flammable materials in the container may also be achieved.
The invention is suitable both for automatic and manual
introduction of the reagent or solvent in the container, with
particularly in the case of an automatic supply this being able to
be effected continuously or alternatively in one batch, preferably
during charging of the container.
In all cases there is a need to recognize when the evaporation
process has ended. In said regard also, solutions are proposed in
the form of a method and associated devices. Firstly, it is
proposed that the pressure in the container or in its lines should
be monitored and that, in the event of a pressure drop greater than
a specific amount or a pressure drop which, within a specific
period of time, exceeds a specific rate of pressure drop, the
heating should be reduced or switched off. Alternatively or
additionally, it is possible for said purpose also to measure the
temperature of the vapour in or at the container and, in the event
of a temperature rise above a specific level or in the event of a
temperature rise above a predetermined rate, to reduce or switch
off the heating. The invention further relates to devices for
effecting said methods.
A further aspect of the invention relates to the manufacture of the
container, parts of the container or supplementary parts which
surround the container, from a material which is heated by the
microwave radiation and as a result heats the material in the
container. Such a construction is advantageous not only because
microwave-permeable material may be treated but also because, after
the microwave radiation has been reduced or switched off, it is
ensured that the material will continue to be heated or kept hot,
so that there can be no rise in vapour pressure or a temperature
drop--which could invalidate determination of the end point--as
would otherwise occur as a result of cooling.
The solutions according to the invention are eminently suitable for
a holder, for the at least one container, which rotates or may
swivel back and forth, e.g. through 360.degree.. A rotating holder
requires a revolving joint for the line to enable a continuous
supply and/or removal through the line despite rotation of the
holder. The holder is preferably equipped to receive a plurality of
containers, with the line branching off preferably in the region of
the revolving joint to the positioning points for the containers
and with the same number of line connections being provided as
there are positioning points.
When evaporating preferably liquid substances or preparing or
analysing sample material, the at least one container is exposed to
a considerable temperature which sets in as a result of heating of
the sample material and/or container material by the microwaves
and/or possibly also a chemical reaction in the container.
Temperatures of around 200.degree. C. to 500.degree. C. or higher
may arise. At high temperatures, stability problems occur with
regard to the container and/or holder material, particularly when
said material is a resistant plastic material such as, preferably,
polytetrafluoroethylene (PTFE Teflon). The stability problem is
exacerbated by the fact that, in a known device of the type
indicated in the already cited DE-OS 38 18 697, the lid of the
container is prestressed towards the bottom container part. At a
high operating temperature, namely when the stability of the
container material decreases, said prestressing leads to an
additional stressing of the container, resulting in deformation or
damage and malfunctions. Further problems addressed by the
invention are therefore the high operating temperature and the
resultant stability problems for the at least one container and/or
the holder. The latter problem arises, especially when the holder
guarantees closure of the container, mainly when operating with
excess pressure.
Further aspects of the invention for solving the above-mentioned
problems are, on the one hand, to reduce the temperature acting
upon the container and/or holder and/or to reduce the stress on the
container and/or holder. A feature which solves the first-mentioned
problem consists of sweeping the heating chamber with air and hence
cooling the container and/or holder externally and/or internally. A
further solution feature is to support at least one container on
the holder in a suspended arrangement. By said means, there is not
only a substantial reduction in the stresses acting upon the
container but also an enlargement of the external cooling surface
of the container because the underside of the container may also be
cooled. In said regard it should be noted that, especially with the
cooperation of a reagent, the operating temperature is highest in
the bottom region of the container.
The invention also relates to a cooling device, by means of which
the holder and/or the container or containers or parts thereof may
be cooled. The risk of thermal overload exists particularly for the
container and indeed mainly for the bottom container part which
contains the sample material heated by the microwaves. The other
parts of the device situated in the heating chamber may be
simultaneously cooled, or alternatively only the holder could be
cooled, namely by the cooling air flow which traverses the heating
chamber from the cooling air inlet of said chamber.
The construction according to the invention is particularly
suitable for evaporation and preparation treatments under excess
pressure. With such treatment measures in particular, extremely
high temperatures develop in the container.
The invention is however also suitable for treatments of material
in the sample container which are effected with a partial vacuum
and during which the reaction chamber in the container is evacuated
and at the same time the reaction chamber is aerated with a view to
achieving as complete a pneumatic sweeping of the reaction chamber
as possible. During said process, an internal cooling of the
container is effected, and said cooling may be combined with an
external cooling when the suction air flow is directed from the
interior of the container towards its exterior.
The invention also relates to measures enabling an improved
analysis result. The analysis result may in many cases be corrupted
by the formation of condensation product in the container,
particularly after completion of the evaporation or preparation
process. An aspect of the invention is therefore to prevent or
reduce the formation of condensation product in the container or to
provide measures preventing condensation product from reaching the
sample residue provided for analysis. The formation of condensation
product may be reduced by generating heat in the top region of the
container, i.e. at its lid or in the region of its top edge, this
being achievable by the arrangement, possibly on additional parts,
of materials which are microwave-absorbent and so are heated during
operation by the microwave.
Another measure according to the invention consists of providing in
the container at least one receiving area for condensation product,
into which condensation product automatically flows. Particularly
when a bottom container part is laterally removed without the lid
from the holder, any condensation product clinging to the lid will
be scraped off and fall onto the residual sample material. In a
further refinement of the invention, a peripheral groove for
receiving the condensation product is provided in the container,
and is provided in particular on an adapter ring.
The sub-claims contain features which contribute to
problem-solving, lead to constructions which are simple, practical
and hence inexpensive to manufacture, improve handling, assembly,
dismantling, sealing, thermal economy and operation and also
prolong the service life.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
The invention and further advantages achievable by the invention
are described in greater detail hereinafter with reference to
preferred embodiments and drawings. The drawings show:
FIG. 1 a simplified perspective front view of a device according to
the invention for evaporating in particular liquid substances,
preferably reagents, or for preparing or analysing sample material
in at least one container which is to be selectively opened and
closed;
FIG. 2 a vertical partial section through a holder for one or more
containers which is disposed in the heated area of the device;
FIG. 3 a vertical partial section corresponding to FIG. 2, in a
modified construction of the device;
FIGS. 4 and 5 various operating states of the constructions
according to FIG. 2 or 3;
FIG. 6 a perspective front view of a device according to the
invention in a modified construction;
FIG. 7 a vertical section through a container of the device
according to FIG. 6 in its inserted position in the device;
FIG. 8 an enlarged view of the detail labelled X in FIG. 7;
FIGS. 9-12 details of the multi-part container according to FIG. 7,
likewise in vertical section;
FIG. 13 and 14 modified constructions of the device in sectional
views corresponding to FIG. 2;
FIG. 15 an operational diagram from which the temperature curve can
be seen;
FIG. 16 a diagrammatic view of a device for measuring the vapour
temperature;
FIG. 17 an operational diagram from which the temperature curve can
be seen;
FIG. 18 a perspective view of a further modified construction of a
device according to the invention for evaporating in particular
liquid substances, preferably with reagents, or for preparing or
analysing sample material;
FIG. 19 a vertical partial section through a holder having a
container fastened thereto;
FIG. 20 a view from below of a holding element of the holder;
FIG. 21 a vertical partial section of a further modified
construction of the holder for one or more containers disposed in
the heated area of the device;
FIG. 22 a solvent- and gas-supply device according to FIG. 21 in a
modified construction;
FIG. 23 a vertical partial section of the holder for one or more
containers disposed in the heated area of the device, in a further
modified construction;
FIG. 24 a perspective front view of a device according to the
invention having a holder for sample containers for decomposing and
analysing sample material;
FIG. 25 a radial vertical partial section through the holder in the
region of a positioning point for a sample container;
FIG. 26 a perspective view of a protective housing for the holder
and the sample containers.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS
The principal parts of the device 1 are a heating appliance 2
preferably operating with microwaves and having a heating chamber 3
closable, for example, by means of a door (not shown), a holder 4
disposed therein and having a plurality of--preferably four or
six--positioning points 5 for containers 6, a suction pump 7, a
condensation cooler 8 disposed in the suction line 9 leading to the
suction pump 7, a plurality of supply lines 11--or a common supply
line branching into a plurality of supply lines--for a solvent, and
an electronic control device 12 preferably having a computer and
being capable of working according to preset or entered programs, a
keyboard and a display or a display screen for displaying control
data preferably being associated with the control device 12.
Further associated with the device 1 is a balance 10 which is
situated outside of the heating chamber 3, the balance preferably
being an electronic balance 10 which is connected by an electric
control line to the control device 12. The latter may be integrated
into the device or be disposed in the housing containing the
keyboard and the display screen.
The heating appliance 2 is integrated into a block-shaped housing
13, from the front of which the heating chamber 3 in the form of a
block-shaped recess is accessible and is tightly closable by means
of a sealing door which, for the sake of simplicity, is not shown.
The suction line 9 and the supply line 11 open through associated
openings into the heating chamber 3. The holder 4 is made of
microwave-permeable material, in particular a plastic such as
polypropylene, and is a rotating part having a bottom rotating
plate 14 and a top rotating plate 15, between which the containers
6 are held. The rotating part may be driven in the sense of
continuous rotation or alternatively a reciprocating swivelling
movement, preferably through approximately 360.degree.. The
rotating plates 14, 15 are firmly connected to one another by a
vertically extending connection part, here a connection tube 17
(FIG. 2), in such a way that they project out radially beyond the
connection tube 17 (FIG. 2) and form between them a common annular
recess 18 or individual recesses for receiving the containers 6. As
shown in FIG. 2a guide 19 for the container 6 is preferably
provided on the top of the bottom rotating plate 14 in the region
of each positioning point 5 and positively effects a radially
inward motional guidance when the container 6 is inserted laterally
between the rotating plates 14, 15. The guide 19 may be formed by
an indentation 21 with a flat bottom surface 21a, whose width
extending in a peripheral direction is adapted to the width of the
preferably cylindrical container 6.
As FIG. 2 particularly reveals, the identical containers 6 each
comprise a pot-shaped part 23 and a flat lid 24, which rests on the
top edge with the insertion of a ring seal 25 and may overlap the
edge of the pot 23 slightly in a downward direction so as to be
secured against lateral displacement. The underside extension 20
with a flat seating surface 20a for the edge of the pot 23 engages
around said edge.
The pot 23 of the container 6 comprises a plurality of parts, in
the present case three parts, namely a bottom pot part 26, a top
pot part 27 sealed at its top edge, and a pot-shaped jacket 28
which may extend only as far as the top pot part 27 or
substantially over the entire height of the container 6 and
accommodates the pot parts 26, 27 with clearance of motion. There
is preferably disposed, at the bottom end of the top pot part 27, a
centering shoulder 29 which fits into the bottom pot part 26, the
top pot part 27 resting with a shoulder 31 on the top edge of the
bottom pot part 26. The base 32 of the top pot part 27 has a
plurality of through holes 33 or is perforated in the manner of a
sieve. Additionally associated with the top pot part 27 is a filter
plate 34, preferably a so-called glass or paper filter, whose shape
and size is such that it may be placed on an internal shoulder 35
of the top pot part 27. It is advantageous to provide a step or
bevel in the region of the internal shoulder 35 so that, when the
filter plate 34 is in place, there is a gap between it and the base
32. In the present embodiment, the individual parts of the
containers 6 are circular or cylindrical in horizontal
cross-section. To facilitate handling during insertion and removal
of the pot parts 26, 27 into and out of the jacket 28, the latter
may be divided by a horizontal dividing seam 36 into a bottom
jacket part and a top jacket part. The container 6 is made of
microwave-permeable material, in particular corrosion-proof
plastic, preferably polytetra-fluoroethylene (PTFE Teflon) or
tetrafluoro-copolymer (TFM) or the like. The pot parts 26, 27 or a
single pot part may also be made of glass, quartz or ceramics. The
individual parts of the container 6 and preferably the jacket 28
may also be formed from partially microwave-permeable material so
that they are heated during radiation by the microwave generator
(not shown), thereby preventing condensation and achieving residual
heating after the microwave is switched off. A suitable material
for said purpose is preferably a plastic in which material parts
such as particles of microwave-absorbing material, in particular
graphite, are incorporated or alloyed and which is known as
Weflon.
The supply lines 11 extend from above at the centre of the holder 4
into the heating chamber 3 and are connected by connection fittings
to a connection plate 37 inserted in such a way into the connection
tube 17 that its peripheral surface rests against the inner
peripheral surface of the connection tube 17. One angular channel
38 for each supply line 11 extends at first axially and then
radially in the connection plate 37 and continues as a radial
channel portion 38a in the connection tube 17. The channel portion
38a may be formed by a sleeve 39 which is firmly inserted into a
bore provided in the connection tube 17, projects out beyond the
connection tube 17 and hence forms a coupling or assembling pin 41.
At its inner end, the sleeve 39 may also project into a
corresponding bore of the connection plate 37, thereby fixing the
latter in position. The sleeve 39 is preferably made of plastic.
Said arrangement of the connection plate 37 is intended for a
holder 4 which swivels back and forth.
Situated in the peripheral surface of the lid 24 is an insertion
hole 42, whose shape and size are adapted to the shape and size of
the assembling pin 41 so that the lid 24 with the radial insertion
hole 42 may be mounted tightly onto the sleeve 39 and the
assembling pin 41. The vertical clearance of the sleeve 39 from the
bottom surface 21a is equal to the clearance of the insertion hole
42 from the underside of the container 6. Consequently, upon
horizontal insertion of the container 6 into the associated
positioning point 5, the line connection designated 43 may be
simultaneously established by the horizontal insertion movement and
severed upon removal in the opposite direction. Provided between
the top of the lid 24 and the top rotating plate 15 and supported
on one of said two parts is a spring part 44, preferably in the
form of a vertically disposed, axially elastically compressible
sleeve, which in the inserted position of the container 6
prestresses the lid 24 slightly towards the pot 23 and hence
guarantees sealing of the lid 24. From the insertion hole 42, a
channel, in particular an angular channel 38b, extends radially
inwards in the lid 24 and preferably opens out in the centre at the
underside of the lid 24 and hence into the cavity of the pot
23.
The suction line 9 is connected to the heating chamber 3 so that,
when the device 1 is in operation, a partial vacuum may be
generated in the heating chamber 3. Said partial vacuum may
continue through the existing gaps or channels specially provided
for said purpose, on the one hand, between the pot parts 26, 27 and
the jacket 28 and, on the other hand, between the pot parts 26, 27
firstly into the bottom application chamber 23a and then also into
the top application chamber 23b. Owing to the effect of said
partial vacuum, the vapour arising in the containers 6 during
treatment may be extracted, witch the treatment being accelerated
owing to the passage of the vapour and/or solvent through the
sample material situated on the filter 34 and/or the sieve plate
32.
Extraction of the vapour may be improved by admitting air or a gas
into the heating chamber 3, thereby achieving an air or gas flow
during extraction. This may be achieved through an aeration opening
shown in FIG. 1 preferably by an aeration valve 40 which is
disposed in a channel 40a in the housing 13, connects the heating
chamber 3 to the environment, is preferably accessible from outside
and is to be selectively opened and closed and is preferably
adjustable. Owing to the gas or air stream which develops during
extraction, the vaporous constituents may be extracted more
efficiently, in the sense of being flushed, from the inner chamber
of the container 6 and from the heating chamber 3.
The embodiment according to FIGS. 3 to 5, in which identical or
comparable parts are provided with the same reference numerals,
differs from the embodiment according to FIG. 2 merely in that the
lid 24 is disposed or held on the holder 4 and so is part of the
holder 4. For holding the lid 24 on the holder 4, a locking screw
15a is used, which fits through a vertical hole disposed in the top
rotating plate 15 preferably coaxially to the container 6 and is
screwed into a threaded hole in the top of the lid 24, the locking
screw 15a vertically penetrating the sleeve-shaped spring part 44.
By means of the locking screw 15a, whose head is preferably
countersunk in the top of the top rotating plate 15, the lid 24 may
not only be held but its height may also be adjusted by screwing
the locking screw in or out. The lid 24 is additionally resiliently
held at its inside by the plug-in connection 43, this being
achievable by a radial clearance of motion of the sleeve 39 in the
connection tube 17 in addition to the flexibility of the sleeve 39.
In said construction, the plug-in connection 43 is designed for a
continuous connection. Since the lid 24 is held on the holder 4,
for insertion and removal of the container 6 only the pot 23 is
inserted into and removed from the positioning point 5. During said
process, the pot 23 is not only automatically closed and opened but
a line connection 45, provided instead of the plug-in connection
43, between the supply line 11 and the top application chamber 23b
of the pot 23 is also established upon insertion and severed upon
removal. Said line connection 45 is formed by the channel 38b and
the opening 23c of the pot 23. Unlike the construction according to
FIG. 2, in which the axis of the plug-in connection 43 extends
horizontally, the axis of the line connection 45 extends
vertically.
In the construction according to FIG. 3, moreover, the lid 24 is
set at such a height that the pot 23 may be inserted with a slight
vertical clamping action between the lid 24 and the bottom rotating
plate 14, which rotating plate may be provided with a special guide
part comprising the guide 21. Since the locking screw 15a is not
restricted in an upward direction, upon insertion of the pot 23 the
lid 24 may be pressed slightly upwards against the spring action of
the spring part 44. To facilitate insertion, lead-in bevels may be
disposed externally on the underside of the lid 24 and/or
internally on the top of the lid 24.
In the present construction according to FIG. 3, the recess 23c in
the underside of the lid 24 is open in a radially outward direction
so that the pot 23 may be inserted laterally into the recess 23c.
The radially inner boundary surface of the recess 23c forms a stop
A, which cooperates with the top edge of the pot 23 or the ring
seal 25 and delimits the insertion movement of the pot 23 in the
desired upright position. Thus, the recess 23c also forms an
insertion guide 19.
Associated with the device 1 is a device for measuring the
temperature in or at the containers 6. Said device is preferably at
least one non-contact thermometer, in particular an infrared
thermometer 46, which is preferably disposed in the bottom region
of the plane of rotation of the containers 6 laterally of the
holder 4 and past which the containers 6 travel during operation.
The thermometer 46 is connected by an electric control line to the
control device 12 (FIG. 1).
An evaporation process is described below with reference to FIGS. 2
to 5. The intention is, for example, to determine the moisture or
fat content of a material sample 47. To said end, an amount of the
sample 47 is applied onto the filter plate 34 and weighed by means
of the balance 10 to determine its quantity. The filter plate 34
carrying the sample 47 is then inserted into the top pot part 27,
with the pot parts 26, 27 possibly being already situated in the
jacket 28 or being subsequently inserted therein. The container 6
with lid 24 (FIG. 2) or without lid 24 (FIG. 3) is then inserted
horizontally into its treatment position on the associated
positioning point 5, thereby automatically establishing the line
connection 43 or 45. Owing to the tension of the spring part 44,
the lid 24 is tightly closed, with the sample 47 being situated in
the bottom region of the top pot part 27 on the filter plate 34
(FIG. 2 and 3). The evaporation process may then begin. The heating
appliance 2, the holder 4 and the suction pump 7 may start
simultaneously, and the suction pump may generate a pressure of 20
mbar and the heating appliance 2 may generate a temperature of
around 80.degree. C. in the heating chamber 3. Said treatment
period may last about 5 minutes. During said period the sample is
dried, with any moisture content in the sample being volatized and
extracted, this being illustrated by the flow arrows 48 shown in
FIG. 3. The volatile fractions pass out of the top application
chamber 23b through the filter plate 34 and the perforated base 32
into the bottom application chamber 23a and, from there, through
the above-described gaps or special radial through holes 49 in the
jacket 28 or bottom jacket part 28a and/or top jacket part 28b into
the heating chamber 3, and they are further extracted by the
suction line 9, condensed in the cooler 8 and collected. By said
means the sample 47 is dried. If only drying is to be achieved, the
treatment of the sample may then be regarded as already complete.
The level and duration of the temperature in the heating chamber 3
may be determined by a time switch and/or the thermometer 46, which
measures the temperature at or in the container 6. After the
treatment stage described above, the partial vacuum in the heating
chamber 3 may be reduced, this being possible by opening the valve
40 in the wall of the heating chamber 3. The valve 40, too, may be
selectively opened and closed automatically by the control device
12.
A next treatment step may be effected according to FIG. 4 under
normal pressure in the heating chamber 3. By means of a pump (not
shown) or gravity, a specific quantity of the solvent 53 (eluent),
e.g. about 10 ml, is admitted preferably into the centre of the top
application chamber 23b so that the solvent 53 passes onto the
sample 47. At the same time, the heating appliance 2, the suction
pump 4 and the holder 4 are switched on or driven and a small
quantity of solvent, around 3-5 ml, may additionally be introduced.
The hot solvent 53 runs through the sample 47 and the filter 34,
passes already in the process of evaporation into the bottom
application chamber 23a and is further evaporated there (arrows 54)
and extracted from the system in the manner described.
The solvent vapour may be condensed and reclaimed in the
condensation cooler 8. Recycling through specially provided return
lines is also possible (not shown). During said treatment step, the
passage of the solvent 53 with possibly already existing vapour
fractions through the filter 34 and the base 32 is accelerated by
the partial vacuum. With said treatment step too, the treatment
period may be determined or controlled by the treatment time and/or
temperature.
In the next treatment step according to FIG. 5, total drying
may--if desired--be effected. The solvent 53 then completely
evaporates, and the temperature may be maintained by suitable
control of the heating appliance or the heating appliance may be
switched off. This is possible because the temperature in the
jacket 28 reaches its maximum and brings about a residual heating
effect and hence the drying. Operation of the suction pump may be
maintained up to the end of the treatment step. The partial vacuum
may also be reduced by opening the valve 52. After said treatment
step, a residue 47a of the sample material is situated on the
filter 34. Fat eluted from the sample material (eluate) 47b is
situated on the bottom of the bottom pot part 26. By weighing the
fat and the residue, the desired test values may be determined.
In the condensation cooler 8, which is also subject to the suction
action of the suction pump 7, the solvent vapour may be condensed
and reclaimed. By means of a line (not shown), the condensation
product may be returned to the supply line 11 and recycled.
In the embodiments according to FIGS. 1 to 5, external cooling of
the holder 4 and the containers 6 is also effected by means of the
gas or air stream traversing the heating chamber 3.
The embodiment according to FIGS. 6 to 8, in which identical or
comparable parts are provided with the same reference numerals, is
distinguished from the embodiment described above by a plurality of
alternatives. Firstly, the containers 6 are each disposed in their
own partial-vacuum chamber 61 which is formed by an, in particular,
hollow cylindrical wall horizontally surrounding the associated
container 6 with a slight clearance, or by a pot-shaped, preferably
likewise hollow cylindrical housing 62, with the peripheral wall
which forms the partial-vacuum chamber 61 tightly cooperating at
its top edge with the lid. Each partial-vacuum chamber 61 is
connected by a suction line 63 to the suction pump 7, the suction
line 63--in a comparable manner to the supply line 11--possibly
branching off from the common suction line 63 in a distributor or
branch piece 64 into as many lines leading to containers 6 as there
are containers. The common suction line 63 is preferably connected
axially by means of suitable connection fittings to the central
distributor piece 64, whose downward extending through channel 66
opens into a clearance 67, which is disposed below the distributor
piece 65 and from which the desired number of suction line portions
63a may branch. Said holder 4 is therefore geared for continuous
rotation. The reagent is introduced into the container or
containers prior to insertion of the latter.
As far as support of the lid 24 is concerned, the lid is held on
the holder 4 as in the embodiment according to FIG. 3 by the
locking screw 15a and the plug-in line connection 43, with the pot
23, which in the present case forms a unit with the partial-vacuum
housing 62, being insertable between the lid 24 and the bottom
rotating plate 14 and removable horizontally from the side, and the
lateral guide 19 may here be formed by the recess 20 in the
underside of the lid 24.
Here too, the line or plug-in connection 43 is formed by the sleeve
39 which communicates with the clearance 67. The channel 38b does
not however open out from the centre of the container 6 at the
underside of the lid but opens into the gap between the pot 23 and
the partial-vacuum housing 62, said gap being only about 1 mm or a
few millimetres wide. Since the volume of the partial-vacuum
chambers 61 is therefore low, less power is required to generate
the partial vacuum.
If an automatic supply of reagent or solvent 53 is desired, a
supply line 11a may be provided, which may be connected by a
suitable fitting to a through channel 68 preferably extending from
top to bottom in the lid 24, the through channel 68 preferably
opening into the pot 23 at its centre. In the construction
according to FIG. 7, an additional flat lid 24a is provided, which
is disposed on an internal shoulder 23d in the top edge region of
the pot 23, preferably recessed in the latter. The arrangement may
be effected in such a way that the lid 24a rests flat against the
underside of the lid 24 oar the seating surface 20a of the recess
20. The additional lid 24a is preferably likewise made of a
material, in particular plastic, which resists the microwaves in
such a way that it is heated during operation (Weflon). The reagent
or solvent 53 passes through a vertical central hole 24b in the
bottom lid 24a into the pot 23. The reagent supply lines 11a may
comprise separate lines or branch lines emanating from, a common
line, which are connected to a feed pump 60. On account of the
supply line or lines 11a, said holder 4 is rotated back and forth
during operation.
Said construction, too, is provided with an aeration valve 40,
which may be disposed in the region of the suction pump 7 and as a
sweeping valve in the lid 24 and whose aeration channel 40b and/or
40c may be connected to the partial-vacuum chamber 61 and/or the
inner chamber of the pot 23 in the manner indicated in FIG. 7.
The supply lines 11a may extend through holes 15b disposed in the
top rotating plate 15.
A further distinguishing feature of the construction according to
FIGS. 6 to 12 is that the top pot part 27 rests with an external
flange 27a on the top edge of the partial-vacuum housing 62, which
may likewise have an external flange. The top pot part 27 is
centered in the partial-vacuum housing 62 by means of an annular
shoulder 27b which is disposed on the underside of the flange 27
and fits with clearance of motion in the partial-vacuum housing.
The annular gap between the pot 23 and the partial-vacuum housing
62 is situated below the annular shoulder 27b. Further provided is
the bottom pot part 26 which, from below, overlaps the bottom end
of the top pot part 27 and may thereby be centered. It is
advantageous to place on the bottom of the bottom pot part 26 a
tray 26a, on which residues of the sample material may collect and
then be easily removed. The passage between the channel 38b and the
partial-vacuum chamber ,51 is effected by a vertical channel 27c,
which vertically penetrates the flange 27a and the annular shoulder
27b and is aligned with the channel 38a. When an annular groove
communicating with the channel 38a is provided at the underside of
the lid 24 or at the top of the flange 27a, the channel 27c need
not be in alignment.
In the pot 23 according to FIGS. 7 to 12, the jacket 28 is situated
in the partial-vacuum chamber 61 and may lie with its external
lateral surface against the partial-vacuum housing 62 or preferably
with its internal lateral surface against the bottom pot part 26.
In all of the embodiments, the jacket 28 may be a pot-shaped
housing, i.e. have a base 28a which extends below the pot 23 and
preferably has a hole 28b in its centre.
The device 1 of said embodiment operates in a similar manner to the
embodiment described above, except that the heating chamber 3 is
not directly evacuated but only the respectively associated
partial-vacuum chamber 61, this being effected by means of the
suction pump 7 and the suction line 63, 63a. In other words, the
free heating chamber 3 is released from conduction of the extracted
vapours. There is however an air or gas flow between the aeration
opening 40a and the aeration channels 40b. As a result, the
constituents of the solvent and possibly of the sample material
which evaporate under microwave radiation are extracted firstly out
of the top application chamber 23b into the bottom application
chamber 23a and then through seams or gaps provided between the
bottom pot part 26 and the top pot part 27 into the partial-vacuum
chamber 61 and on from there. In said embodiment too, the vapour
may be condensed in the cooler 8, reclaimed and recycled as
solvent.
The embodiment according to FIG. 13, in which identical or
comparable parts are likewise provided with the same reference
numerals, differs from the embodiment according to FIG. 7 in that
the container 6 is of a different construction and there is a
different application, namely to purify a solvent by evaporating
it, the impurities being left on the base of the pot 23. In the
course of evaporation the solvent is supplied, while being
simultaneously heated by means of microwaves, through the supply
line 11a, with at the same time the suction pump and the rotary
operating mechanism being switched on so as to generate in the
partial-vacuum chamber 61 surrounding the, in this case
single-piece, pot 23 a partial vacuum which continues through
radial holes 23d in the top half or in the top region of the pot 23
into the inner chamber 23e of the pot, so that the solvent vapour
is extracted. Here too, the aeration valve 40 may improve a desired
sweeping function. In order to increase the retention time of the
solvent passing into the inner chamber 23e before it reaches the
base of the pot 23, there is disposed in the pot 23 a downward
spiralling conduit 82, into which the liquid solvent drops from the
through hole 76 and flows helically downwards. The prolonged travel
in the conduit 82 results in the desired increase in the exposure
time during which the microwaves may heat and evaporate the
solvent.
In the variant of the device 1 according to FIG. 14, in which
identical or comparable parts are likewise provided with the same
reference numerals and, to avoid repetition, are not further
described, a single-piece pot 23 is likewise provided which may be
horizontally inserted into and removed from its operating position
between the bottom rotating plate 14 and the lid 24 held on the
holder 4. Said construction is likewise provided with a line 63a
extending through the lid 24, the plug-in connection 43 and the
distributor piece 65, but said line is not a supply line but a
suction line which is possibly connected to the condensation cooler
8 and the suction pump 7.
In said construction, the sample material and/or solvent is
introduced into the container 6 before the pot 23 is inserted into
the holder 4. In the course of heating and evaporation, evaporable
constituents of the sample material and/or solvent are evaporated
and the yapours are extracted upwards through the suction line 9a,
the aeration valve 40 provided in the lid 24 effecting an
advantageous sweeping of the inner chamber 23e of the pot 23.
In the construction according to FIG. 14, the distributor piece 65
is part of a revolving joint 83 which, given continuous rotation of
the holder 4, enables a simultaneous distribution and bringing
together of the channels 38a of the containers 6 to form the common
suction line 63, the distributor piece 65 remaining stationary in
the pivot bearing hole 84 of a pivot bearing piece 85, which is
inserted into the connection tube 17 and rotates with the holder 4
about the distributor piece 65. The bringing together of the
streams is effected in the clearance 67 below the distributor piece
65 or the latter's through channel.
According to FIG. 14, there is associated with the device 1 a
device for measuring the partial vacuum in the container 6, which
device is connected by its electric control line to the control
unit 12 and so enables control or regulation of the heating
appliance 2 as a function of the partial vacuum. In the present
construction, a vacuum gauge 86 is provided, which is connected by
a pipe or tube 87 to the suction line 63--and so gives a
partial-vacuum reading roughly corresponding to the partial vacuum
in the container 6--and is connected to the control device 12,
which with the aid of an evaluation device is designed so as to
supply a control signal when the partial vacuum falls below a
preselected value. Said construction enables an advantageous
procedure for determining the end point of evaporation. When the
evaporable constituents have been evaporated and evaporation
ceases, the suction pressure generated by the suction pump 7 (FIG.
2) automatically drops because the uniformly operating suction pump
7 generates a greater partial vacuum in the absence of evaporation.
By said means, the end point of evaporation is determined and the
treatment process is brought to an end by switching off the device
1 or the suction pump 7, the heating appliance 2 and the rotary
operating mechanism for the holder 4, with the aeration valve 40
also possibly being opened to establish normal pressure. FIG. 15
shows the pressure characteristic with a pressure drop as a curve,
with time Z being plotted on the X-axis and pressure P on the
Y-axis.
An alternative method of determining the end point of evaporation
is by taking into account the temperature characteristic in the
container 6. The control device 12 is designed to produce a control
signal in the event of a temperature rise above a predetermined
level or a temperature rise which is occurring faster than normal.
When the evaporable constituents in the container have been
evaporated and evaporation therefore ceases, heating energy is no
longer consumed for evaporation, this automatically leading to a
temperature rise. By said means, the end point of evaporation is
determined and the device produces the control signal described
above, as a result of which the evaporation process is brought to
an end, i.e. the device 1 is switched off in the manner described
above.
The thermometer 46 may be used to monitor and measure the
temperature. It is even more advantageous to measure the
temperature directly in the suction line. To said end, according to
FIG. 16 a thermometer 46a with a resistor or resistance wire 46b
may be used, which measures the temperature directly in the suction
line 63 or associated channel portions. As the temperature :rises,
the resistance value increases so that the temperature
characteristic and the temperature may be electrically monitored
and measured. The thermometer 46a is also connected by an electric
signal line to the control device 12 which, if the temperature
rises beyond a predetermined amount, produces the control signal
described above for bringing the evaporation process to an end.
FIG. 17 shows the temperature characteristic with a temperature
rise as a curve, the temperature T being plotted along the X-axis
and the resistance R being plotted along the Y-axis.
In the embodiments according to FIGS. 7 to 17, an external cooling
of the holder 4 and the containers 6 and also an internal cooling
of the containers 6 is effected by the gas or air stream.
The construction according to FIGS. 18 to 20, in which identical or
comparable parts are provided with the same reference numerals,
differs from the constructions described above in two respects.
Firstly, the containers 6 are each held in a suspended position in
the holder 4 by means of a suspension device 91 and, secondly, an
air-sweeping device for the heating chamber 3 is provided which
substantially corresponds to the extraction device formed by the
suction pump 7, the suction line 9 and the aeration valve 40 but is
used, not to extract vapours, but to circulate cooling air.
Given a suspended support of the containers 6, the holder 4 is
easier and less expensive to manufacture because it is possible to
dispense with the bottom rotating plate 14. Given such a
construction, the respective positioning point 5 is provided only
on the top rotating plate 15 of the holder 4 which, apart from
this, may correspond to the construction of the holder 4 according
to the embodiments described above.
With said construction, containers 6 are used which have suspension
shoulders disposed some way down from their top edge. In the
present construction, the containers 6 have at their top edge a
horizontal edge flange 92 (FIG. 19) with a lower surface 93, over
and under which holding parts of the suspension device 91 engage.
The present containers 6 have, below the edge flange 92, a
neck-like constriction 94 which is formed by a peripheral bead of
the upright container wall, so that the inner chamber of the
container is also constricted in the region of the neck-like
constriction 94. For suspending the containers 6, two lateral
angled limbs 95 disposed on the underside of the top rotating plate
15 may be used, which laterally engage over and under the edge
flange 92.
In the present construction, the angled limbs 95 are formed by the
bottom edge of a cylindrical bush 96, which is inserted in a
vertical bore 97 in the top rotating plate 15 and is locked by
means of a flange against vertical displacement and against
rotation e.g. in a form-fit manner or by means of an interference
fit or gluing. As FIG. 20 particularly reveals, the bottom of the
bush 96 is relieved by a circular recess 98, which is open in a
radially outward direction and extends to this side as far as into
the bottom region 98a of the peripheral wall of the bush 96,
thereby forming a lateral radial insertion opening 99 for the edge
flange 92, into which opening the edge flange may be inserted with
clearance of motion (see double arrow). To said end, the vertical
clearance a between the underside of the rotating plate 15 and the
supporting surface of the angled limb 95 is made slightly greater
than the thickness of the edge flange 92.
The surface 92b of the edge flange 92 may rest particularly tightly
against the underside of the holder 4 or, in this case, the
rotating plate 15. In said region, a stopper 101 is preferably
disposed in the holder 4 and may be clamped against the edge flange
92, thereby establishing or improving sealing and securing the
container (6). In the present construction, the stopper 101, which
is circular in cross-section, is rotatably supported with slight
clearance of motion in a threaded retaining ring 102, which may be
screwed from above into the bush 96 and has, at its top end region
projecting from the bush 96, application elements for enabling it
to be screwed in and out by hand or by a tool. The stopper 101 is
made longer than the threaded retaining ring 102 and engages below
the latter with a flange 101a at its bottom end, with its top end
projecting about 5 to 10 mm beyond the threaded retaining ring 102.
Said projecting end region is designated 103. Situated in the
stopper 101 is a through channel 104 comprising a preferably
coaxial channel portion, which opens out at the underside, and a
radial channel portion which opens out of the stopper 101 in the
end region 103. The radial channel portion 104b is connected by a
line connection extending above the rotating plate 15, e.g. a
firmly attached tube or pipe, to a revolving joint 64 substantially
corresponding to the embodiments described above, to which the
discharge line portions 105 lead and are connected to a common
discharge line 63.
Provided off-centre in the stopper 101 is a further through channel
106 which is part of an aeration device for the container 6. The
through channel 106 opens at the underside of the stopper 101 into
an annular groove 107. At the top end of the stopper 101, a valve
screw 108 may be screwed into the stopper and the through channel
106 may, by screwing said valve screw in and out, be selectively
closed, opened and adjusted in size. For said purpose it is also
possible to provide a suitable valve 109 which is disposed in a
tube or pipe 106a externally connected to the through channel 106.
Between the stopper 101 and the valve 109, the line 106a may branch
in the form of a supply line 11, especially for the purpose of
supplying a reagent, e.g. by means of a pump.
Preferably disposed in the top opening region of the container 6 is
a stopper-like baffle element 110, whose top surface is level with
the top surface 92b of the edge flange 92 and so lies--as the
container 6 already does--sealingly against the underside of the
stopper 101. The baffle element 110 comprises, coaxially, a lid
110a and a baffle head 110b extending down from the lid in the
shape of a mushroom cap, said baffle head extending in the present
construction roughly as far as into the neck-like constriction 94
and its diameter being so dimensioned as to form between it and the
inner peripheral wall of the container 6 a small annular gap S.
Between the baffle head 110b and the plate-like lid 110a there is a
free annular chamber 110c. The lid 110a lies in a form-fit manner
against the diverging wall of the edge region of the container 6 so
that it is locked in position. Provided in the lid 110a in
alignment with the annular groove 107, is a through channel 106b
which, irrespective of the rotational position of the baffle
element 110 at any one time, enables a throughflow of air or a
specific gas, e.g. inert gas or reagent. A second larger through
channel 110e, which is part of the discharge line portion 105, is
provided coaxially in the baffle element 110 and hence in alignment
with the through channel 104a.
The embodiment according to FIGS. 18 to 20 may operate in
substantially the same manner as the embodiments described above so
there is no need for a separate description. To effect an
evaporation process or decompose a sample, the containers 6, which
are preferably standard containers made of glass, quartz or
ceramics, are after introduction of a sample material 47 inserted
horizontally into the suspension device 91 and sealed, i.e. closed
and simultaneously clamped, by screwing down the threaded retaining
ring 102. Owing to said tight closure, the present construction is
suitable for treating substances not only under normal pressure or
a partial vacuum but also under excess pressure, for which purpose
the threaded retaining ring 102 is to be accordingly closed.
Instead of the screw-type bracing, a, in particular elastic,
clamping device may be provided for prestressing the stopper 101
forming a lid towards the container edge.
In the course of the treatment process, the resultant yapours may
be extracted through the discharge line 63, in which case at the
same time the valve 109 (if provided) and/or the valve screw 108 is
to be opened. Reagent may optionally be purposefully supplied
through the supply line 11. During the treatment process, the
containers 6 may be cooled by the sweeping air stream 40b also at
their underside, so that a large surface area is cooled, said
cooling being effected by sweeping the heating chamber 3 with the
air which is extracted through the suction line 9 and is discharged
at the supply opening 40, 40a. The vapour may condense on the inner
wall of the container and run back down as condensation product
47c.
In all of the embodiments described above, it is possible and
advantageous to effect the above-described treatments of a
substance in at least one container 6 with the reagent or solvent
in two or more stages, with there being at least partial use in
each subsequent stage of a reagent or solvent which has been
reclaimed from the preceding stage of treatment and has possibly
been enriched with new reagent or solvent. According to Nernst's
distribution law, the efficiency of extraction is greater when it
is effected in stages than when a single longer extraction is
effected. The consumption of solvent is also reduced.
The embodiment according to FIG. 21, in which identical or
comparable parts are provided with the same reference numerals,
differs from the above-described embodiments having a supply device
for a reagent or solvent and an aeration device for the container 6
in two respects.
Firstly, the aeration device designated 40d in FIG. 21 is
integrated into the supply device 11b. This makes it possible to
utilize the supply line 11a both to supply the reagent and to
aerate or sweep the associated container 6, so that there is no
need for a separate aeration channel 40b, 40c, such as shown in
FIG. 7, in the lid 24. According to FIG. 21, a branch line 40f,
here a flexible plastic tube, opens inside a block 40e into the
supply line 11a, which branch line emanates from the aeration valve
40 and may supply an aeration gas via a controllable non-return
valve 40g. The branch line is disposed downstream of the pump 8
(FIGS. 1, 6 and 18)--here, a hose pump--so that the supply of
aeration gas is guaranteed even when the pump 8 is not operating
and no reagent is being supplied. The block 40e is disposed outside
of the heating chamber 3 or it may alternatively be disposed in the
heating chamber 3 provided that it and its add-on parts are made of
microwave-permeable material. The flexible supply line 11a is made
long enough to allow the holder 4 during operation to execute
reciprocating swivelling movements. One storage container 60a and
one feed pump 60 for each container 6 may be disposed preferably
outside of the housing for the heating chamber 3, or a common
storage container 60a and a common pump 60 may preferably be
provided, the supply line 11a branching off in the block 40e into
supply branch lines 11a, whose number corresponds to the number of
containers 6 and which are each connected to the associated
container after penetrating the top rotating plate 15 and the lid
24 (FIG. 22).
In the present embodiment, the supply line 11a in each case extends
longitudinally through the associated locking screw 15a and does so
in the form of a longitudinal channel 15b, to which a coaxial
channel 15c in the lid 24 is connected, said coaxial channel
opening out at the underside of the lid. At its top end, each
locking screw 15 has a hose coupling--in the present case, a
connection fitting 15d--onto which the associated supply line 11a
is placed.
A further constructional difference relates to the fact that the
formation of condensation product is prevented or that condensation
product forming in particular in the top region of the container is
collected and so is prevented from flowing down onto the sample
residue 47b situated on the bottom of the container 6 and
corrupting analysis of the sample residue 47b.
To prevent the formation of condensation product, an additional
heating of the wall of the container 6 is provided. For said
purpose, wall portions may be used which are made of
microwave-absorbing material, preferably Weflon, with the container
6 itself possibly being made of such a material or being surrounded
externally and/or internally by such a material. For said purpose,
it is possible, for example, for the container 6 to be inserted
into a cylindrical or pot-shaped jacket 28 of the type already
illustrated in FIG. 7. In the case of a container 6 having a bottom
part 26 and a top part 27, the jacket 28 extends only as far as the
top region of the bottom part 26. A comparable jacket may also be
associated with the top part 27.
A collecting groove 111 is provided on the inner periphery of the
container 6 for collecting condensation product as it forms. The
collecting groove 111 is situated above the bottom of the container
6. It may be moulded on the container 6 or be formed on an
insertion ring, which is inserted into the container 6 and rests
tightly against the inner wall to which it may be fastened. The
collecting groove 111 may also be disposed above, the perforated
base 32 so that the condensation product cannot reach the first
sample residue 47a. In the case of a container 6 comprising a
bottom part 26 and a top part 27, the collecting groove 111 may be
disposed at the bottom end of the top part 27 and, according to
FIG. 21, it may be integrally constructed with the sieve plate 32
or a carrier for said sieve plate or may form a structural unit
therewith, the collecting groove 111 and the perforated plate 32
possibly being formed or carried by the insertion ring 112 which
may rest on an internal shoulder at the bottom end of the top part
27 or on the edge of the bottom part 26. In the present embodiment,
the collecting groove 111 is formed by a top annular projection 112
a, which projects up from the insert ring 112 at a radially inward
distance from the inner wall of the container 6. The sieve plate 32
may rest on a further shoulder of the insertion ring 112. The
collecting groove 111 is preferably made of a microwave-absorbing
material, in particular a plastic such as Weflon, and is preferably
integrally constructed with its carrier.
In the embodiment according to FIG. 23, in which identical or
comparable parts are likewise provided with the same reference
numerals, the collecting groove 111 is disposed as a single piece
on the inner periphery of the container 6. The container may be a
one- or two-piece container 6. According to FIG. 23, no perforated
plate 32 is provided for carrying a filter disk 34, which may have
a centrally upward bearing structure 34a for manual application. In
the context of the invention, it is also possible for the top part
27 not to be a top container part in a literal sense, but merely a
container adapter ring 114 so that the bottom part 26 forms the
container 6.
It is advantageous to dispose a ring seal between the container 6
or bottom part 26 and the adapter ring 114 or top part 27 in order
to guarantee a seal between them. According to FIG. 23, an O-ring
115 is provided as a seal, which is effective between the top edge
of the bottom part 26 or container 6 and a radial shoulder surface
116 of the adapter ring 114 and whose sealing action is enforced by
the vertically directed elastic tension with which the container 6
is slightly vertically compressed between the bottom and top
rotating plates 14, 15.
When, after an evaporation or preparation process, the container 6
is removed laterally out of the holder 4, drops of condensation
product present on the underside of the lid 24 are scraped off by
the top edge of the container 6 and flow down the inner wall of the
container 6 or adapter ring 114 into the collecting groove 111
without corrupting the material sample 47a or 47b.
A further or additional measure for preventing the formation of
condensation product consists of disposing a material layer on the
underside of the lid 24 or a plate on the lid 24 or associating
with the container 6 an additional lid 24a made of
microwave-absorbing material according to FIG. 13 so that the
formation of condensation product is reduced or eliminated owing to
increased heat.
It is also, according to FIG. 23, advantageous in terms of heat
management alone to provide a plate made of microwave-absorbing
material on the positioning surface for the container or containers
6.
The microwave-absorbing material is preferably a plastic, into
which microwave-absorbing material has been introduced in a
uniformly distributed manner. Said material may be, for example,
carbon or graphite, as realized in the case of the plastic
material, WEFLON, already known in this field. The proportion of
heat-absorbing material is to be selected according to the desired
temperature of the heat. It may be, for example, approximately 1 to
50%.
A further way in which the construction according to FIG. 23
differs from the constructions described above is that, for
adapting containers 6 of differing heights to the holder 4, a base
117 is provided whose horizontal cross-sectional shape and size is
substantially adapted to the horizontal cross-sectional shape and
size of the container 6, so that it fits onto the associated
positioning point 5. For reasons of cost, it is advantageous to
form the base 117 from a bottom base part 117a made of a plastic
with a lower heat resistance and a top base part 117b made of a
plastic with a higher heat resistance and a heat-insulating
property in order to guarantee the dimensional stability of the
base even at the considerably high temperatures arising during
operation. If a base plate 118 made of microwave-absorbing material
is desired, it is advantageous to let said base plate in a form-fit
manner into the top base part 117b. Such an insertion device is
also, recommended between the base parts 117a and 117b to allow the
base 117 to be handled as a structural unit. The base plate 118 and
the top base part 117b are perforated.
In the constructions according to FIGS. 19 to 23, it is indicated
in outline and by way of example how the inner and/or outer
aeration of the holder 4 and the containers 6 need not be effected
from the heating chamber 3 but may be effected directly from the
environment of the device 1, namely through, in each case, one
aeration line (see, for example, 40f in FIG. 21), which extends
from outside, penetrating the heating chamber housing and the
heating chamber 3, into the container 6. In all of the embodiments,
it is possible to convey for cooling purposes into the heating
chamber 3 and/or to the containers 6 not ambient air, but an inert
gas so as to achieve explosion protection in the case of highly
inflammable substances.
The principal parts of the device 201 according to FIGS. 24 to 26
are a microwave-operated heating appliance 202 with a heating
chamber 203 which is closable by a door 203a, a holder 204 disposed
in the healting chamber 203 and having a plurality of positioning
points 205, preferably four or six, for sample containers 206, one
pressure relief valve 207 per container 206, which automatically
opens when a specific container internal pressure is exceeded and
closes again on account of the tension of an elastic thrust piece,
and one adjusting device 208 per valve 207 for adjusting its
elastic initial tension, i.e. for setting the pressure at which the
valve 207 automatically opens, and a cooling device 210 for the
containers 206 and/or the holder 204 in the heating chamber 203
(FIG. 25).
The containers 206 are identical to one another in construction and
each comprises a pot-shaped housing 209 with a housing base 211 and
a cylindrical, vertically extending housing wall 212. The housing
opening which is closable by a lid 213 is delimited by the top
inner edge of the housing wall 212.
The valve 207 is disposed in the top region of the container 206,
its valve member preferably being formed by the lid 213. When a
specific internal pressure is exceeded in the container 206, the
valve 207 opens automatically so that some of the internal pressure
may escape outwards. This prevents the internal pressure exceeding
a predetermined value and prevents the container 206 from becoming
overloaded and exploding.
The seat of the valve 207 is constructed at the top inner edge of
the cylindrical housing wall 212 and is formed by a downward
converging, conical seating surface 207a which is disposed
concentrically to the cylindrical housing wall 212. The cone angle
is around 45.degree. to 75.degree., preferably around 60.degree..
The lid 213, which is insertable from above into the top inner edge
of the cylindrical housing wall 212, has a correspondingly shaped
conical sealing surface 207b.
The holder 204 is a rotating part having a bottom rotating plate
214 and a top rotating plate 215, between which the containers 206
are held. The rotating part may be driven in the sense of
continuous rotation or a reciprocating swivelling movement,
preferably through approximately 360.degree.. The rotating plates
214, 215 are firmly connected to one another by a vertically
extending connection part, here a connection tube 217, so that they
project out radially beyond the connection tube 217 and form
between them a common circular recess 218 or individual recesses
for receiving the containers 206. There is preferably provided on
the top of the bottom rotating plate 214, in the region of each
positioning point 205, a guide 219 (FIG. 24) for the container 206
which positively effects a radially inward motional guidance with
movement stop A upon lateral insertion of the container 6 between
the rotating plates 214, 215. The guide 219 may be formed by an
indentation 221 with a flat bottom surface 221a, whose width
extending in a peripheral direction is adapted to the width of the
preferably cylindrical container 206.
As is evident particularly from FIG. 25, the adjusting device 208
associated with each positioning point 205 is formed by an
adjustable clamping device 223. In the construction according to
FIGS. 24 and 25, the clamping device 223 is formed by a clamping
screw 224 which is screwed into a threaded hole of the top rotating
plate 215 so as to be accessible from above. The elastic thrust
piece 222 is disposed on the lid 213 and between the latter and the
clamping screw 224. The thrust piece 222 is preferably formed by a
hollow cone-shaped moulding which may be disposed in a recess in
the top of the lid 213. An application element 225 for a turning
tool is disposed at the top end of the clamping screw 224. By
suitably tightening the clamping screw 224, the valve 207 may be so
adjusted that it opens and vents at a selected container internal
pressure.
The pot-shaped housing 209 is held preferably in a suspended
position in the holder 204. Said purpose is served in the present
embodiment by a sleeve-shaped support 226, here taking the form of
a cylindrical tube, in which the housing 209 is inserted from above
and rests thereon by means of a housing flange disposed at its top
end. With the exception of its top end region, the internal
diameter of the support 226 is greater than the external diameter
of the housing 209 so that there is between them a peripheral gap
S. The height of the support 226 is greater than that of the
housing 209 so that the housing base, in the suspended position, is
at a distance from the bottom rotating plate 214. The bottom
rotating plate 214 has coaxially at each positioning point 205 an,
in particular, vertical through bore 227. Provided in the support
226 below its internal shoulder surface 228 is a plurality of
through holes 29 which are distributed over the periphery and
preferably extend obliquely upwards from inside to outside. The
purpose of the through holes 227, 229 will be explained later. The
support 226 may have a perforated base.
Associated with the holder 204 is a hollow cylindrical protective
housing 231 which is large enough to surround the rotating plates
214,215 with a small radial clearance, the housing resting on the
base 232 of the heating chamber 203 and its height being
substantially adapted to the height of the holder 204.
Provided in each case between the bottom rotating plate 214 and the
protective housing 231 and the top rotating plate 215 and the
protective housing 231 is a seal 233 enabling a relative movement
between the holder 204 and the protective housing 231 brought about
by the rotation or swivelling of the holder 204. In the present
construction, sealing rings 234a, 234b are provided, which are
mounted from below or from above onto the associated rotating plate
214, 215, rest on a shoulder surface 235 and are locked against
longitudinal displacement by a locking pin or split-pin 236.
In the present construction, the holder 204 is supported, so as to
be capable of rotating or swivelling, on three wheels 237 which are
uniformly distributed over the periphery and rotatably supported in
the bottom rotating plate 214 and whose underside projects
downwards so that there is a clearance 238 between the base 232 and
the bottom rotating plate 214.
A radial through hole 239 is provided at the bottom end of the
protective housing 231 below the bottom sealing ring 234a.
The protective housing 231 is locked against co-rotation by the
holder 204 by means of a pin coupling 241 which effects positive
locking. For said purpose, there may be provided in the base 232 a
recess 242, into which a pin 243 projecting from the underside of
the protective housing 231 engages in a positive-locking
manner.
The protective housing 231 preferably comprises two half shells
231a, 231b (FIG. 26), which are lockable together in an aligned
position by means of one or two further pin couplings 244 having at
least one pin, disposed on the one half shell and at least one
recess correspondingly disposed on the other half shell for
receiving the pin. The protective housing 231 preferably has at its
bottom end a possibly quadrangular flange 245 which, in the case of
a two-piece construction, is similarly divided at the axial
dividing seam 246. The pins of the pin coupling 243, 244 may be
formed by screw-in screws.
Disposed in the protective housing 231 in the top region, but below
the top sealing ring 234, is a radial connection hole 247 or a
connection fitting which is connected by a tube 248 to a suction
pump 249 (FIG. 24) disposed outside of the heating chamber 203. The
tube 248 penetrates the heating chamber housing 251 in a sealed
through hole 251a.
An air inlet 252, which may be formed by a plurality of small
holes, is disposed in the heating chamber housing 251. It is
possible to provide a plurality of through holes 239 and air inlets
252 distributed over the periphery.
To decompose sample materials introduced into the containers 206,
the microwave generator (not shown) of the heating appliance 202
and the rotary operating mechanism for the holder 204 formed by a
rotor are switched on. Uniform heating of all of the containers 206
and the sample material contained therein is effected. In the
course of said treatment, excess pressures, which are mainly
attributable to evaporation, and high temperatures arise in the
containers. Since it is normally only the sample material which is
to be heated by the microwaves, the material selected for the
holder 204, the containers 206 and the protective housing 231 is a
microwave-permeable material, preferably plastic, so that the parts
in question are not heated by the microwaves. For the housing 209
and the lid 213, what is needed moreover is a highly
corrosion-proof material which is resistant to acids produced by
the sample material in the course of preparation, preferably
polytetrafluoroethylene (PTFE/Teflon) or tetrafluoro-copolymer
(TFM) or also quartz, ceramics or glass for the housing 209.
It is possible and possibly also advantageous to manufacture the
housing 209 and/or the lid or a jacket surrounding the housing 209
from a material, in particular a plastic, which to a slight extent
absorbs microwaves and so, during microwave radiation, generates a
sensible heat which backs up the heating and also may prevent
condensation product from forming in the container 206.
During heating, temperatures arise in the containers which are so
high that the stability of a used plastic, e.g. PTFE, is reduced.
Said problem could be countered by greater wall thicknesses but
this would lead to an increase in overall sizes and manufacturing
costs because the materials used are expensive.
The problem described above with regard to the stability of the
used plastic affects not only the containers 206 but also the
protective housing 231 and the holder 204 and in particular the top
rotating plate 215 which, because of the prestressing of the
elastic thrust piece 222, is subject to a stress which attempts to
bend it upwards. The use of a highly temperature-resistant plastic
for the holder 204 would lead to unacceptably high manufacturing
costs.
Said problem is solved by the cooling device 210 according to the
invention. Possibly at the same time as the microwave is switched
on, the drive for the suction pump 249 is switched on so that said
pump generates a cooling air stream 253 which enters the heating
chamber 203 at the air inlet 252, extends transversely through the
heating chamber 203 towards the radial through hole or holes 229,
through the clearance 238, the through holes 227, the peripheral
gap S, the radial through holes 229 and the annular free chamber
254 provided between the holder 204 and the protective housing 231
towards the tube 248 and the suction pump 249, from which chamber
venting outwards is effected. The air flow path is the same as
indicated by arrows in FIG. 2. The cooling stream 253 for the other
containers 206 follows a corresponding course. By means of said air
flow, the housings 209 are cooled in their bottom region over their
entire surface, with the heat absorbed by the air stream being
removed. It is advantageous for the housing base 211 to be
hemispherical in shape. This results in a trouble-free advantageous
distribution of the air stream towards the peripheral gap S.
It is possibly advantageous not to switch off the cooling device
until some time after the microwave generator is switched off. In
the above-described cooling device 210 according to the invention,
there is therefore simultaneous cooling of the holder 204 with its
individual parts, the protective housing 231 and the containers
206, with cooling in the case of the latter being effected
externally.
The problem described above with regard to the stability of the
plastic at operating temperature also applies to the lid 213. There
is therefore associated with said lid a stabilizer, here in the
form of a top lid disk 213a, (FIG. 25) which is disposed between
the bottom lid disk 213b and the elastic thrust piece 222. The top
lid disk 213a is made of a plastic of greater stability than the
stability of the bottom lid disk 213b. The top lid disk 213a is
preferably inserted in a recess of the bottom lid disk 213b.
* * * * *